Year in Review: Patsy Tombaugh, Kelsey Crooks and other notable obituaries in 2012

Though not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Randall was the "last surviving member of a team of great pioneer rocket scientists who launched the U.S. space program," his biographer said.

Before retiring from White Sands Missile Range in 1978, Randall was a colleague of rocketry legend Robert Goddard and Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto.

Jan 12

Patricia Edson Tombaugh, 99

The educator and artist served as a community leader for cultural, arts and religious organizations. Known as "Patsy," she was the wife of famed astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.

Feb. 7

Jay Reeves, 57

A single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 10 took the love of Reeves, a retired Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department sergeant. After his retirement, Reeves worked in court security and transport. He was off-duty when he died.

February

Brad Harlan, 56

An avid Aggie sports fan, Harlan was the first to don New Mexico State Unversity's Pistol Pete costume in the 1970s.

March 11

Jack Ward, 94

He inspired an event for area high school choral groups that now bears his name — the Jack Ward Invitational Festival. Besides a music lover, Ward was a philanthropist and dedicated volunteer.

May 12

U.S. Staff Sgt. Israel P. Nuañes, 38

Nuañes was a soldier from Las Cruces serving in Afghanistan when he was killed during an enemy attack.

Advertisement

He was with an explosive disposal battalion out of Fort Bliss, Texas

May 14

La Var Washington, 32

Washington was a popular local businessman and owner of Chicago Southwest Gourmet Hot Dogs and Smoothies, a local chain that had recently expanded. He was found dead in his car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

May 29

D. Kent Evans, 72

The respected community leader may be best known for his years of service as a county commissioner. But he also contributed to a wide range of organizations — Boys Scouts, 4-H, Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo — and helped found The Whole Enchilada Fiesta. He worked in the aerospace industry and at NMSU.

June 12

Harold Coffman, 81

Known as "Whitey" by friends and contemporaries, Coffman coached basketball at Las Cruces High for 24 years, winning back-to-back state titles in the 1970s. Upon retirement he taught numerous Las Crucens to drive through his driving school.

Aug. 1

Sharon Bode-Hempton, 69

The cultural corridor of museums and art galleries located downtown was her vision. An artist and art collector, Bode-Hempton served as the head of city museums for several years.

Lynn Nusom, 74

An award-winning writer, Nusom was an expert and lover of all things food. He wrote cookbooks, was a chef, restaurateur and food columnist with regular appearances in the Sun-News. Nusom, from Hillsboro, was known for his knowledge of spicy foods.

Aug. 6

Kelsey Crooks, 31

He burst onto the local sports scene as a star basketball player at Oñate High in the late 1990s, then parlayed that into becoming a contributor and fan favorite at NMSU. His Aggie teammates called him "Mr. Las Cruces." Mistakenly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, Crooks later learned his health problems came from elevated aluminum levels. He died at home, reportedly doing yard work.

Aug. 16

Robert Potter, 41

Potter, from Alamogordo, had served with the New Mexico Motor Transportation Police. He suffered a heart attack during the investigation of a crash on I-10 near Vado.

Nov. 16

Nelson Clayshulte Jr., 95

A longtime pecan farmer whose name is still associated with many area orchards, Clayshulte was most prominently known as a longtime mayor of Mesilla. He served between 1960 and 1972, then again from 1990 to 1992.